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Many years ago, I purchased LL Bean's healthy back bag. It was a great bag and I was fairly happy with it, except for two things: the main zipper pull broke pretty quickly and the fabric wasn't strong enough.
So, when I replaced it, a shoe salesman who rode the same commuter bus as me suggested I come in and buy an actual Ameribag from him, and he would give me a small discount. Cool. So I did. And that's where the fun ends.
Within a month, the stitching on the interior cellphone pocket came loose. I handstitched it back. Then the main zipper broke apart at the bottom. I stitched around it to hold it together, and started to consider replacing it. A few days later, as I double checked the zipper, I saw that the stitching holding the shoulder strap to the bag had come loose and the strap was half-detached.
Ameribag has a lifetime warranty, so I contacted them. Their response, after several days, boils down to this: you sent us nice pictures, but we have to inspect the bag in person, mail it to us, insured, at your expense, and we'll get back to you in 4 to 6 weeks as to whether we'll replace it.
I am ballistic. These bags are not cheap. I love the comfort of the bag, but they're certainly nothing special to look at. I wrote back and told them that since I was going to have to buy a replacement anyway while they had my bag for so long, I didn't see much point in going to the expense of mailing the bag back to them, and that I no longer would be a customer. There are plenty of other manufacturers around who now make similar items, so they're nothing special anymore.
So, when I replaced it, a shoe salesman who rode the same commuter bus as me suggested I come in and buy an actual Ameribag from him, and he would give me a small discount. Cool. So I did. And that's where the fun ends.
Within a month, the stitching on the interior cellphone pocket came loose. I handstitched it back. Then the main zipper broke apart at the bottom. I stitched around it to hold it together, and started to consider replacing it. A few days later, as I double checked the zipper, I saw that the stitching holding the shoulder strap to the bag had come loose and the strap was half-detached.
Ameribag has a lifetime warranty, so I contacted them. Their response, after several days, boils down to this: you sent us nice pictures, but we have to inspect the bag in person, mail it to us, insured, at your expense, and we'll get back to you in 4 to 6 weeks as to whether we'll replace it.
I am ballistic. These bags are not cheap. I love the comfort of the bag, but they're certainly nothing special to look at. I wrote back and told them that since I was going to have to buy a replacement anyway while they had my bag for so long, I didn't see much point in going to the expense of mailing the bag back to them, and that I no longer would be a customer. There are plenty of other manufacturers around who now make similar items, so they're nothing special anymore.
I lucked up at Staples and located one that had been discontinued but failed to get sent back to the manufacturer. I convinced the good folks in the store to sell it to me anyway. Lucky me, I got a $130 back pack for $50! Granted, any warranty would have to go directly through the manufacturer instead of the store, but I can attest, it would be worth it. He's used the particular one for almost 6 months now and it still looks new. Just had to get the youngest (11 y.o.) a new one as well. I spent what I thought was a chunk of change on one (not Swiss brand), again at Staples. It didn't last a week. I called and asked about exchanging it. We were allowed to exchange it and I paid the difference for another Swiss backpack. Again, it still looks new. 
And, like you, I didn't want to go through all the hassle of sending it back. 
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